Old drag strip, new buzz: Shawn Jennings bringing Salina’s racing history back to life for one big day at the old airport

What started as one man walking around the old airport looking for a starting line has turned into one of the more unexpected local events of the spring.

Shawn Jennings, speaking with Salina311 in an interview, said the old Salina Raceway operated from around 1968 to 1971 at the old airport. For Jennings, the site was not just some forgotten piece of pavement. It was part of family memory, local racing history, and a place he had been around for years.

That history is what pushed him to head out there earlier this year and try to find the original starting line.

Jennings said he studied old photos, looked for cuts and lines in the concrete, and eventually found what he believes is the original location. He said the site still has old wires running through the concrete and electrical boxes in the ground, remnants of the drag strip that once drew racers and fans to the area.

From there, the whole thing snowballed.

Jennings said he posted online asking whether people would be interested if he recreated the original sign, brought people back to the original starting line, and invited them to come take photos. He said that simple idea is what launched everything now taking shape. He told Salina311 that his Salina Raceway Drag Racing page had reached 1 million views and that interest exploded once people realized the event would bring the old strip’s look and feel back to life.

For Jennings, the response has not just been about cars. It has been about memory.

He said people have been reaching out to say their dad raced there, their grandpa raced there, or they remember growing up around someone in the neighborhood who had a race car. Jennings said many people knew the racetrack had once been there, but did not really know its history or what it actually looked like.

That is why he and others have gone beyond simply marking a spot on the ground. Jennings said original items have been recreated, including the starter stand, barrels, flag setup, and other details so that when people arrive, the starting line will look like 1969. He made clear one thing during the interview: this is about recreating the atmosphere and taking photos, not turning the old airport into an active drag strip again. There will be no racing and no burnouts.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the "old airport" on Markley Road,  and Jennings said he is expecting a large crowd. About 25 volunteers are expected to help with parking and traffic flow, and attendees are being encouraged to bring donations for the food bank, which will have volunteers on site collecting items. Jennings said the event is free and that several local businesses have helped in small ways as the effort came together. He also said around five food trucks, portable restrooms, and trash facilities are expected to be part of the setup.

There is also a patriotic moment planned for the day. Jennings said that around 12:45 p.m., activity will pause as the VFW, color guard, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts raise the American flag. He said taps will be played in honor of veterans, followed by a national anthem performance by a group of saxophone players. Jennings described that portion of the day as something people will not want to miss.

And while the event is centered on photos and nostalgia, Jennings said some notable vehicles are expected to make an appearance. Among them is what he described as the most historic car tied to the old track, a 1955 Thunderbird known as “Tweety Bird,” which he said raced there in the original era and is expected to return. Jennings also said an alcohol funny car, other unique vehicles, and even at least one car coming in from Florida are expected to be part of the day.

For now, Jennings seems both excited and a little stunned by what this has become.

What began as a local history project and a photo idea has grown into something much bigger, drawing attention from longtime gearheads, families with personal ties to the track, and visitors from outside Kansas. In a town where people often talk about wanting more events with real local identity, this one may have found the formula: old concrete, old stories, old cars, and just enough chaos to make it memorable.

Salina does not get many chances to physically step back into one of its forgotten chapters. On May 3, for a few hours at least, Jennings and a crowd of fellow car lovers plan to do exactly that.

Event details: “Salina Raceway Back to the Track” is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the former runway near the Berkley Family Recreation Area, east of Markley Road. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a donation for the food bank.